Gray Render

This miniature, much like the Nightwalker, was one that I thought would be an easy paint in between more challenging projects. And once again, I was wrong.

The gray render debuted in the 3e Monster Manual (2000), one of a handful of monsters created specifically to showcase new game mechanics—and in the case of the render, the revised grapple rules. A really great D&D monster needs not just a neat mechanic or ability, it also needs a nice visual as well as a solid hook into the game setting. Alas, while the gray render helped round out the mid-range challenge ratings of 3e, it was otherwise just a blander and slighter weaker umber hulk.

The gray render was brought back to 5e in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (2018). It’s quite a bit tougher (Challenge 12) and has some new distinctive quirks, but what really makes the beast pop is its new look. Like the 5e nightwalker, the 5e gray render seems to be inspired by a Guillermo del Toro movie—namely, the first Hellboy (2004), and Wayne Barlowe’s design of the monster Sammael.

WizKids added a new gray render miniature in Wave 14 of their licensed Nolzur’s Marvelous Miniatures, and if anything the figure is even better than the reference art. The sculpt is great, with finely textured hide much like an elephant or rhino. It ended up being tough to paint, and as with the nightwalker part of the problem seemed to be going so dark over a white primer. I also struggled to get just the right tone of gray, as I swung back and forth between inks and washes and being much too light or much too dark before finally landing at about the right level. In retrospect I wish I had tried putting some Army Painter Dark Tone ink right on the primer, with some drybrushing highlights on top of that.

My own struggles aside, this is a great figure that was well worth fighting with. But I’m not sure my players will agree—Mwah ha ha ha!